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One day while brainstorming for pumpkin dessert ideas I thought to myself that Pumpkin Spice Madeleines would be a nice treat. Then a few days later while I was at Starbucks ordering my usual Venti Black Tea Lemonade Sweetened guess what I saw next to the register… Pumpkin Spice Madeleines. I didn’t purchase them as I am partial to their regular madeleines and since I was planning on making a version myself I didn’t want their flavor to cloud my judgment as to how mine should taste.

Originally I was planning on tweaking the recipe I used for Vanilla Madeleines to make a Pumpkin Spice version, but then I came across a recipe that required less ingredients and less time. Both are always a plus. Although I did have my doubts. Especially since the ingredient list did differ greatly in the basics – the amount of eggs, oil vs. butter, the amount of flour and so forth. Thankfully those doubts were futile, these madeleines were a hit! An 8 year old who initially make a yucky face when I told her what they were enjoyed them. And the day after I made them I got a request for more. And I recently made a third batch. So, what do they taste like? Well, I’ll say this, if you like pumpkin bread you’ll love these madeleines. They are made with actual pumpkin purée as well as the spices that make up the notorious pumpkin spice flavor – cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves.

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Spray your Madeleine pans with cooking spray or grease with butter or oil.

In a large bowl, use a hand mixer to beat together the pumpkin, eggs, sugar and oil until smooth. In a medium bowl combine the remaining dry ingredients, except for the confectioners’ sugar, and whisk together.

With the mixer on low speed add half of the flour mixture and mix until just combined. Add the remaining flour mixture and mix until smooth.

Spoon a tablespoonful of the batter into each cavity of the madeleine pan. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until they are puffed up and a cake tester inserted into the middle of one comes out clean. Let cool for a few minutes in the pan and the transfer to a wire rack to cool completely and then dust with confectioners’ sugar.

*If you only have 1 madeleine pan wipe it clean after the first batch and then re-grease it before filling the cavities with the remaining batter.

Like this:

I really can’t remember the first time I had a Madeleine but I do know that when I tried it I instantly loved it. What held me back from making them was not having the proper pan. But, before I go any further you may be wondering, what exactly is a Madeleine? Well, it’s the size of a cookie, but in actuality it’s a cake, a small cake that originated in France. What really sets this sponge cake apart and lets you know that you are eating the real deal is its shape – shell-like reminiscent of a scallop. To obtain that required shape you need a Madeleine pan, they can be a bit pricey considering you won’t use all that often, but luckily I was able to find two of them at a great price at my local Home Goods. This meant I could finally make Madeleines and also try out another recipe for Chocolate Dipped Bear Paws – but those are for another day.

In the bowl of my stand mixer I whisked together six eggs with granulated and brown sugar on high until it was pale and fluffy – just shy of ten minutes.

While the eggs were mixing, I combined flour, baking powder and salt in a bowl and then sifted it in two additions over the egg mixture, folding it in after each addition.

Next, I folded in two sticks of melted butter, once again in two additions, folding it in after each one.

And finally I folded in honey and vanilla extract.

After covering the batter with aluminum foil I refrigerated it for at least two hours.

After a few hours I removed the batter from the refrigerator and let it stand at room temperature for ten minutes. Meanwhile I preheated the oven to 350 F and prepared my Madeleine pans by buttering them, while most people use a pastry brush to butter their pans I am partial to using a simple sheet of paper towel so that I can be sure to get into all the nooks and crevices of the pan.

I then filled a pastry bag with the batter and snipped the end so I could fill the molds about three-quarters full. I actually filled one of the molds with water and determined how much exactly was three-quarters so I wouldn’t overfill the molds – I tend to do that sometimes, especially when making donuts!

I baked them in the oven for about ten minutes and per the instructions shook them of the pan out as soon as they were out of the oven. I’m happy to say that on my first try I was successful in getting the traditional bump on the back of the cake and also the scalloped design was clearly distinct on the front!

I ended up making thirty-five Madeleines which was the perfect amount for keeping some and sharing. Overall they were hit with everyone who tried them. The texture was spot on – not too dense or light and airy – and the vanilla flavor was just right. Definitely something I will be making again.

2. Whisk together eggs and granulated and brown sugars with a mixer on high speed until pale and fluffy, about 10 minutes. Sift flour mixture over top in 2 additions, folding in after each addition. Fold in melted butter in 2 additions, then honey and vanilla. Refrigerate, covered, for at least 2 hours.